IN INCHICORE, the FAI Ford Cup is regarded as a Holy Grail yet there have been several times over the years when St Pat’s fans have considered themselves cursed in their pursuit of it.

 

Without a win in the trophy since 1961 – in which time all their rivals enjoy plenty of success in the competition since – Pat’s have been dreaming of glory for half a century.

But while they remain just two games away from winning it – the most passionate of their supporters must be wondering if they are actually any closer to the fulfilment of their dream after the way this game was snatched away from them.

Winning 1-0 against 10 men, they then coughed up a goal out of nothing – a series of defensive mistakes which allowed Philly Hughes to equalise. The two sides must now replay on Monday evening.

If this suggests these once bitter rivals will resume their intense rivalry then that isn’t the sense you got from this occasion. Okay at one point, these two Dublin clubs were continually feuding but times change and so do managers and owners.

Today’s Pat’s and Shels sides bear no resemblance to what went before. Their relationship is cordial.

Yet both want the same thing – a place in the Aviva for the final.

And for so much of last night, it looked like St Pat’s would get that. They may have started poorly, Shels settling into the game immediately and coming close to an opening goal when Hughes collected David Cassidy’s pass before firing wide.

Yet after 20 minutes, Pat’s settled. Daryl Kavanagh was the man who made them tick, dropping deep from his centre forward position to receive possession and recycle it to his team mates.

As a result of this superior tactical understanding, the Pat’s patterns of play were more cohesive and attractive. Yet their chances were limited. Stephen Bradley had a free kick well saved by Dean Delaney and Danny North had a shot blocked but after 40 minutes, there was little else to report.

And then North seized his chance – which came via a Bradley free kick, swung in from the right, was knocked back into the Englishman’s path. His subsequent shot was low and perfectly directed. Pat’s were a goal up.

And two minutes later they were man up when Colly James was dismissed after a clash with Anto Murphy. The initiative was with Pat’s now but Shels had a go right from the start.

Okay, Kavanagh came close to making it 2-0 with a run around two players and a subsequent shot wide.

But Shels came back. Their goal came from nothing more than a punt forward, which Evan McMillan failed to head clear and Derek Pender failed to control, sending the ball into Hughes’ path. From 12 yards he couldn’t miss. And so it is back to Richmond Park for Monday’s replay.

SHELBOURNE: Delaney; Ryan, Paisley, Boyle, Byrne; McGill (Gorman 63), Cassidy, James, Clancy; Dawson, Hughes (Da Silva 86)

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers; E McMillan, Kenna, Bermingham; Murphy, McFaul, Bradley (Mulcahy 86), Doyle (D McMillan 69); Kavanagh, North

REFEREE: I Buttimer (Cork).

FIXTURE

St. Patrick's Athletic v Shelbourne - FAI Ford Cup Semi-Final Replay

Monday, October 17

Richmond Park (7.45pm - Extra-time of 30 minutes duration and a penalty shoot-out, if required)